Research

Current research: Exploring the everyday life experiences of trans youth: Space, body, emotion

My PhD research is concerned with the everyday experiences of trans youth in British society. Informed by non-representational theories, and inspired by feminist and participatory epistemologies, it aims to explore the activities, emotions and embodied interactions of young trans people, and the lived and everyday realities of having a young gender variant body in differing spaces, places and times.

Drawing on a variety of participatory methodologies, the research seeks to work ‘with’ rather than ‘on’ participants. In-depth qualitative and creative approaches are used to inspire in-depth ‘accounts’ of lived experiences to be shared.

Through its engagement with Gendered Intelligence, a community interest group supporting young trans people aged 8-25 through creative means, the research hopes to encourage an increase in the presence and voice of trans youth in social science research. Outputs of the research will be designed to inform both Gendered Intelligence and developing policies and practices seeking to improve the safety, wellbeing, visibility and representation of trans young people. A principal aim of the work is to draw public and academic attention to the everyday realities of being young and trans.